Adjustable necktie and strip applicable thereto



W. MAYER Oct, 12, 1937.

ADJUSTABLE NECKTIE AND STRIP APPLICABLE THERETO Filed Sept. 23, 1935 INVENTOR, Mag,

BY Willa Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE NECKTIE AND STRIP APPLI- CABLE THERETO William Mayer, New York, N. Y.

Application September 23, 1935, Serial No. 41,670

2 Glaims.

My present invention relates generally to neck- Wear, and has particular reference to an improved type of adjustable neckband.

It is a general object of my invention to pro- 5 vide an improved adjustable necktie of the general character illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,003,359, issued June 4, 1935. This type of necktie has a neckband portion which is adjustable in length by doubling it back upon itself and by providing at its end a fastening element, such as a button or ahook, which is adapted to engage with a selected one of a series of openings or perforations in the neckband.

It isfrom some aspects undesirable to provide the perforations directly in the'tie material, and for this reason it is preferable to provide an added separate strip of fabric in which the perforations are provided. The use of an extra strip is of particular advantage in permitting neckband sizes to be printed or embroidered thereon, and it usually affords a convenient means for applying a trade-mark or the like to the tie. However, the use of perforations withwhich a fastening element is intended to cooperate necessitates the provision of sufiicient reinforcement to avoid the possible damagewhich a fastening element, such as a hook, might cause.

In accordance with my present invention, I have made unique advantageous use of a lining which is coextensive in length with the necktie, for the purpose of providing a device of the foregoing character.

Briefly, the present invention is characterized by the provision of a necktie element which consists of inner and outer plies of tie material, the inner ply being shorter in length than the outer ply to permit the added perforated strip of material to be attached to the rear of the inner ply and thereby form a continuation of the latter. This combination and arrangement of parts is coupled with the provision of a full-length lining, the rearward portion of which serves the function of areinforcement for the perforated strip. More particularly, the rearward portion of the lining 45 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced perforations arranged in registry with the perforations in the continuation strip, and means are provided for marginally 'interengaging each pair 50 of registering perforations;

In a preferred embodiment, the full-length lining is made of an integral piece of material. In a modified form of the invention, the lining is composed of two separate, parts, a forward por- 55 tion v and a rearward portion, which are preferably, but not necessarily, fastened together at their contiguous ends.

A further modification provides for the reduction in width of the rearward portion of the lining, i. e., the portion which is perforated. 5

From one aspect, the invention relates to the separate assembly of perforated strip and lining, which, as a distinct article of manufacture, may be employed by manufacturers of adjustable neckties in the production of articles of the present novel character.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed 1 out, in the manner illustratively' exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein 15 Figure 1 is a perspective View of a bow tie embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3,3 of Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the added perforated strip assembly by itself, forming part of a. modified construction;

' Figure 5 is a view similar'to Figure 2, employing the assembly of Figure i;

Figure dis a fragmentary perspective View, partly in section, and partly broken away, illustrating a further modification; and

Figure '7 is a perspective View showing the manner in which the present invention may be applied to a tie of the ready-made variety.

. While I have illustrated my invention in association with a necktie of the bow knot variety, nevertheless it will be understood that the accompanying drawing is, merely illustrative and that the tie of Figure 1 might just as Well be a fourin-hand type of tie, and the tie of Figure 7 might just as well be a ready-made four-in-hand type of tie.

The construction illustrated in Figure 1 includes the knot-forming portions H3 and II, the same having rearwardly extending neckband portions I2 and I3, respectively, The neckband of the tie is made adjustable in length by providing a male fastening element M (which I have illustratively shown in the form of a hook) at the extremity of the neckband portion l2, whereby this portion may be doubled back upon itself to engage the hook in any one of a series of longitudinally spaced perforations provided in a predetermined arrangement. A metallic loop I5 is mounted on the neckband portion [3 and the neckband portion I2 extends through this loop.

The manner of applying the members I4 and I5 to the extremities of the neckband portions has not been illustrated in detail, because these particular portions of the structure have no bearing upon the present invention. In fact, the

present invention concerns itself only with the, construction and arrangement of the element I2,

these plies are turned inwardly and stitched together by concealed stitching, in a manner well known to those conversant with the art. This requires that the plies I6 and I! be first assembled back-to-back and then, after stitching them to.

gether, the entire assembly is turned inside-out.

In accordance with my present invention, the inner ply I6 is not coextensive in length with the outer ply II. More particularly, the outer ply I1 is of full length, and by this term I mean to signify that'it extends all the way from the knotforming portion to the rear end at which the hook I4 is fastened; whereas the inner ply I6 extends only about half-way toward'the rear end, the'rear extremity being approximately at the line I8 shown most clearly in Figure 1. The term partial-length inner ply, as used herein and in the appended claims, is intended to allude to the foregoing general relationship. between the lengths of the plies I6 and I1.

At the rear end of the inner ply I6, it is associated with the forward end of an additional strip of fabric I9 which is coextensive in width with the plies I6 and I1 and which has its longitudinal edges turned in and secured to the outer ply by the invisible stitches 20, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. The strip I9 is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced perforations which are designated generally by the reference numeral 2 I. Preferably, adjacent to the perforations, the strip bears indicia or markings 22 signifying neckband sizes.

My present novel construction includes, as an element thereof, the full-length lining 23, the term full length being intended to signify the fact that the lining is coextensive in length with the outer ply II. The forward portion of the lining is coextensive in width with the tie, and has its longitudinal edges turned inwardly and engaged bythe invisible stitches hereinbefore mentioned. In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-5, the rearward portion of the lining 23' is also of this width, as will be observed upon viewing Figure 3. The rearward portion of the lining 23 is provided with a series of perforations registering with those in the strip I9, and means are provided for marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations. I have illustratively shown buttonhole stitching 24 which accomplishes this purpose, but, obviously, metallic or other eyelets may be used, or the inter-engagement maybe effected by any other suitable means. In using the tie of Figures 1-3, it is obvious that the hook I4 may be engaged with any select: ed perforation and that this will adjust and vary the efi'ective neckband length. Where a hook is employed, there is no danger of injury to'the tie, because the strip I9 is adequately reinforced by the rearward portion of the lining 23. Even where the fastener is in the nature of a button, 5

and the perforations in the form of buttonholes, this extra reinforcement is of advantage.

In Figures 4 and 5, I have illustrated a modified construction in which the strip I9 and the inner and outer plies I6 and II are exactly the same in structural nature and mode of assembly as in Figures 1-3. The lining, in this case, is, however, not a single and integral element, but is composed of the two parts 25 and 26. The forward portion 25 is separate from the rearward perforated portion 25, and these parts may be connected, as at 21, or they may be left in overlapped relationship. Conjointly, however, they define a full-length lining.

The advantage of the construction of Figures 4 and 5 lies in the fact that the strip I9 and the rearward lining portion 26 may be separately manufactured and may subsequently be associated with a tie construction which comprises the plies I6 and I! and the forward lining portion 25. With this objective in view, it is a specific feature of the. present invention to make the lining portion 25 of different length from that of the strip I9, so as to avoid the joint 21 from coinciding with the joint at the line I8.

The separate strip and lining assembly is shown by itself in Figure 4; and at the left of this figure it will be observed that the lining portion 26 projects beyond the end of the strip I9.

By virtue of the fact that the rearward portion of the lining is secured to the strip I9 by the means which inter-engage the registering perforations, it is not absolutely essential that the rearward portion of the lining be coextensive in width with that of the strip I9 or the ply II. It may be feasible, therefore, under certain circumstances, to modify the construction as illustrated in Figure 6. In this figure, the reference numerals I6, I'I, I9, and 2| are applied to the parts hereinbefore designated by these numbers. The lining element is designated by the reference numeral 27', and it will be observed that the forward portion, i. e., the portion sandwiched between the plies I6 and I1, is coextensive in width with these plies and has its longitudinal edges inter-engaged with the longitudinal edges of these plies; whereas the'rearward portion, i. e., the portion which is perforated and secured to the strip I9, is of reduced width with the longitudinal edges 28 entirely free. The advantage of this construction lies in the reduced thickness of the longitudinal edge portions of the tie along the perforated region, this reduction in bulkiness facilitating the adjustment of this portion of the tie through the metallic loop I5.

Obviously, the modification of Figure 6 may be adapted to the structure of Figures 1-3; or it may be adapted with equal facility to the construction of Figures 4 and 5.

. 30, and a hook 33 is adapted to engage therewith when the tie is worn. In other respects, especially in connection with the adjustability of neckband length, the construction and mode of operation is the same as described hereinbefore.

Theelement 30, from its forward end all the way to its rear end, at which the hook 34 is applied, is the element to which the present invention has specific reference.

In general, it will be understood that changes in the details, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. I

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1'. In an adjustable necktie, an element whose forward end defines a knot-forming portion and whose rearward end is adapted to be doubled back upon itself, a fastener on the rear end of said element, said element comprising a full-length outer ply and a partial-length inner ply of tie material, an added strip coextensive in width with the inner ply and forming a rearward continuation thereof, said strip having a series of longitudinally spaced perforations into any one of which said fastener may be engaged, a fulllength lining having in its rearward portion a series of perforations registering with those in said strip, and means marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations, the forward portion of said lining being coextensive in width with said outer and inner plies and having its longitudinal edges stitched to the longitudinal edges of said plies, the rearward portion of said lining being of reduced width with its longitudinal edges free.

2. In an adjustable necktie,an element whose forward end defines a knot-forming portion and whose rearward end is adapted to be. doubled back upon itself, a fastener on the rear end of said element, said element comprising a full-length outer ply and a partial-length inner ply of tie material, an added strip coextensive in width with the inner ply and forming a rearward continuation thereof, said strip having a series of iongitudinally spaced perforations into any one of which said fastener may be engaged, a full-length lining consisting of separate forward and rearward portions, the rearward portion having a series of perforations registering with those in said strip, and means marginally interengaging each pair of registering perforations, the forward portion of said lining being coextensive in width with said outer and inner plies and having its longitudinal edges stitched to the longitudinal edges of said plies, the rearward portion'of said lining being of reduced width with its longitudinal edges free, the forward end of said rearward portion being out of alignment with the forward end of said perforated strip.

WILLIAM MAYER. 

